3 Biblical Ways on How to Overcome Anger

In this post, learn how to overcome anger in the Biblical way!

Do you want to know how to overcome anger? Do you find yourself feeling angry all of the time? Do you find it hard to control your anger? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you need to read the rest of this post!

In 2008, there’s a study called Boiling Point conducted by the Mental Health Organisation in the UK. The findings regarding anger have been interesting. Here are some key points:

32% of people surveyed say they know of someone who has difficulty in controlling their anger.
12% of people say they have trouble controlling their anger.
20% say they have ended a relationship because of anger issues.
64% of people believe others, in general, are getting angrier.
13% of people who have trouble controlling anger don’t see the need to seek help.
58% don’t know where to seek help on how to overcome anger.

Now, what do these figures tell us?

Simple. It tells us that anger is a common problem and what makes things worse is that people don’t know where to turn to!

Thankfully, help is available and that help can be found in the word of God.

To know how to overcome anger, let me share with you 3 effective ways every Christian should know!

Table of Contents

Don’t hold on to your anger

Anger is no doubt a normal response to something that doesn’t meet our expectations. It affects us in many ways. It can affect our thinking, our relationship with God and others, our work, our ability to do our activities, our decision, and virtually every aspect of our lives.

In Ephesians 4:26, we read:

“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.”

The Apostle Paul was saying that it is possible for us to get angry and not sin. That’s something we should know.

In fact, we read a lot of times in the Bible where God and Yahshua (Jesus Christ) were angry. So, there are two different types of anger. One is the righteous anger while the other is the unrighteous anger.

James 1:20 adds, “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Instead of letting anger to control us, it is us who should control our anger.

Most often than not, the anger and wrath of man aren’t righteous anger, but it could lead to something that could hurt us and other people.

Thus, going back to Ephesians 4:26, it tells us that we must “not let the sun go down on your wrath.”

In the first instance when we feel angry, we must immediately manage it. Instead of letting anger control us, we must control our anger.

You must acknowledge the feeling of anger, determine its cause, and see whether it is righteous anger or not. Because if it is not righteous anger, then you must eliminate it as fast as possible.

Psalms 37:8 even tells us:

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.

With this in mind, you should never nourish and cherish your anger. It is something that we shouldn’t dwell upon. You shouldn’t let anger take root in your heart.

So, I want to ask you, is there anger in your heart?

If yes, it’s time to let it go.

I once read a quote that goes like this:

“Anger is like holding a hot coal in your hand hoping that the other person feels the pain.”

In the end, it is only you who end up getting hurt the most.

When you let anger dwell long enough in your heart, friends, what can happen?

It can control you even at the slightest provocation.

So, friends, you need to get rid of unrighteous anger as soon as possible. Don’t let it dwell in your heart for too long.

Be slow to anger

For most people, it is unavoidable to stop getting angry. So, what you need to do is be slow to anger!

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 14:29:

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.

Being slow to wrath means that you are not easily provoked. It’s difficult to make you angry. And you know what makes a person slow to anger? It is because you have a great understanding.

The wiser you get, the more you realize that getting angry is not worth it. You start choosing your battles. You don’t get angry and make enemies all the time.

The wiser you get, the more you realize that getting angry is not worth it quote about anger

When someone cuts you off in traffic, you don’t get angry. Instead, you just let it slide. When someone talks bad about you or curses you, you simply ignore them as much as possible. You don’t go down their level, but you keep yourself on a higher ground of morality.

Proverbs 14:29 continues by saying that if you easily get angry, you exalt folly.

You exalt foolishness.

Why?

Because you are exposing your foolishness.

In most cases, friends:

When you speak and act in the heat of the moment,
When you are emotional,
When you are being controlled by your anger…

I can almost assure you that you will only regret what you are about to say and do.

Here’s a quote I read while preparing this blog about how to overcome anger:

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.

You see, the problem with the words you say in anger is that they might be forgiven, but they will not be forgotten.

There are just a lot of things at stake when you do and say something in anger.

In my life, I can attest to you how much pain and trouble I was able to avoid simply by just being silent when I was angry. Once you have composed yourself and you’re not angry anymore, that’s when you can talk and discuss things out.

A Chinese proverb once said:

If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape one hundred days of sorrow.

Surrender your anger to God

One thing you can always remember when you’re feeling angry is Romans 12:17-21:

Let’s read:

Repay no one evil for evil – meaning, if other people are angry, don’t get angry as well. That’s why we see a lot of road rage and fight. Because people try to pacify anger with anger!

If you are patient in one moment of anger... you will escape one hundred days of sorrow. How to overcome anger qoute.

Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men – did you notice that, friends? It says, as much as it depends on YOU. It didn’t say as much as it depends on others. The responsibility falls on you. You can’t control other people. You can only control yourself.

Here’s something important to remember in verse 19:

¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says Yahweh.

So, why should you not get angry?

It is because if someone has wronged you, hurt you, took advantage of you, or betrayed you, it is not you who will avenge yourself, but God.

So, why should you be angry if God will take care of everything for you? You simply surrender your anger and emotions to your Creator.

Simply put… let go and let God.

The Apostle Paul concluded:

²⁰ Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

When you don’t get angry with the people who are angry at you, when you do good instead of seeking revenge and getting even, then you are overcoming evil with good.